By Authority:
Jay Stearman
Treasurer,
People for
Pendergrass

 

In the District - 2004

2006 In the District

2005 In the District

2004 In the District

 

In 2004 much of my energy was spent successfully shepherding HB 566 through the legislature.  This bill caps the increase in assessments, that CA can charge residents, at 10% each year.  (This mirrors State law which limits the County’s increase in taxes based on assessments.)

As a member of the Howard County Delegation, I was also able to help pass several local bills which impact Howard County.

  • HB 1445 Public School Facilities Surcharge enables the Howard County Government to impose a $1.00/sq foot surcharge on all new construction over 2000 sq. ft. in order to finance additional county bonds for school construction.
  • HB 527 increases the number of members of the Board of Education from 5 to 7.  This change takes effect in the 2006 election.
  • HB 223 allows the Howard County Board of Education to meet only once during July and once during August, as long as they meet at least 24 times a year.  Since the Board usually has over 40 public meetings a year, meeting 24 times a year is not a problem.  
  • HB 618 authorizes Howard County to offer School Board members the opportunity to pay for benefits offered other members of the School system.
  • HB 1486 authorizes a method to elect a citizen to replace a vacancy on the Board under some special circumstances. 

The county was finally able to get funding for Blandair Mansion repairs. $500,000 was added to the State Budget to begin restoration of this historic building requiring an additional $500,000 in matching funds from the County. This funding is intended to halt the deterioration of Blandair Mansion and allow some restoration to begin.

The delegation also passed a variety of other bills which:           

  • allows the District Attorney more flexibility concerning Work Release programs (HB 382);
  • dissolves the Mental health Advisory Board which duplicated the function of another board (HB 852);
  • restricts the ability of large multi state liquor stores to do business in Howard County and harm local businesses (HB 1392).
  • removes in five years the favorable tax status that the Rouse Company has enjoyed for over 30 years, and will require them to pay the same tax on land as every other business. (HB 1376)

During the months of May and June, I attended all the Columbia Village Boards in my district (Oakland Mills, Owen Brown, River Hill, Kings Contrivance, and Long Reach), as well as several other large Community Association meetings (Elkridge and Savage) to talk about what was (or was not) accomplished in Annapolis this year.

As always, it is a pleasure to serve you.  I encourage you to contact me to express your opinion on legislative issues which interest you. Also, if there is any way in which I can assist you with a Maryland State problem, please do not hesitate to contact me or my assistant, Virginia Charles. The best method to contact me is by e-mail at, shane.pendergrass@house.state.md.us.  You can, of course, still contact the office by phone at (410) 841-3139, (301) 858-3139, or 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3139 or by fax at 301-858-3178 or 410-841-3178

Delegate Shane Pendergrass, District 13
Maryland House of Delegates
6 Bladen Street, Room 262
Annapolis, MD 21401
(301) 858-3139, (410) 841-3139
Toll Free: 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3139
FAX: (410) 841-3178  -  (301) 858-3178
e-mail: shane.pendergrass@house.state.md.us